Eric L. Ameres, Ph.D.

Engineer | Educator | Maker
eameres.com

The Mission

I specialize in the design of high-level software architectures and precision physical systems. My career spans nearly four decades of technical leadership, including foundational work in global video standards (VP9) and current research in cognitive load and immersive visualization at RPI. Through EraserMice Industries, I combine this digital expertise with computer aided fabrication.

Professional Experience

Sr. Lecturer – Games Simulation Arts & Sciences 2019 – Present
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
  • Instructor for Game Engine Architecture, 3D Computer Graphics Programming, and Intro to Game Programming.
  • Performing research in immersive user interfaces and data visualization at the Institute for Data Exploration and Analytics.
  • Core Technologies: C#, C++, JavaScript, Python, OpenGL, Vulkan, Unity, Unreal, and Godot.
Founder & Lead Designer 2020 – Present
EraserMice Industries
  • Operating a professional-grade CNC fabrication shop specializing in domestic, high-precision manufacturing.
  • Developing original game systems and mechanical puzzles, including Mazominos and the Basilisk Game Engine.
Sr. Research Engineer 2007 – 2019
EMPAC at RPI
  • Co-invented "The Campfire," a patented system for high-resolution immersive visualization and data exploration.
  • Managed multi-disciplinary technical teams for international research and performance projects.
  • Responsible for the specification and implementation of 3D stereo projection, digital audio, and interactive rigging.
Chief Technology Officer / Lead Architect 1994 – 2007
On2 (Acquired by Google)
  • Led the team responsible for the "TrueMotion" and "VP" family of video codecs, foundational to the current VP9, AV1, and Google WebM standards.
  • Directed the development of multiple generations of compression technology, resulting in 16 issued patents.
  • Established and managed the "upstate" engineering branch, overseeing distributed engineering and IT teams.
Software Engineer 1986 – 1991
Intelligent Computer Music Systems / Digitronics-Sixnet
  • Created "RealTime," one of the first commercial MIDI sequencers and algorithmic music composition tools.
  • Developed real-time process control and embedded monitoring software.

U.S. Patents Issued

11,240,498 Independently Coding Frame Areas
10,996,552 Pseudo-volumetric display apparatus and methods
10,616,576 Error recovery using alternate reference frame
8,942,290 Dynamic coefficient reordering
8,824,553 Video compression method
8,780,992 Video compression and encoding method
8,705,625 Video compression and encoding method
8,665,951 Video compression and encoding method
8,634,464 Video compression and encoding method
8,290,055 Video compression and encoding method
8,290,054 Video compression and encoding method
8,170,112 Video compression and encoding method
7,953,152 Video compression and encoding method
7,606,310 Video compression and encoding method
7,499,492 Video compression and encoding method
7,409,099 Image/video compression via data re-ordering
7,027,654 Video compression system
6,108,383 Compression and decompression of video images

Education

Ph.D. Cognitive Science • RPI
Thesis: Reducing the Cognitive Load of Visual Analytics of Networks
M.S. & B.S. Computer and Systems Engineering • RPI